Blog

  • Acupuncture, Alternative Health

    Season changes and a tune up

    Well, a season change is upon us. There is some color in the leaves and the cool mornings signal that fall is approaching. This season change, more than the others, I get people who are not well.

    People just feel off, their get up and go, went.

    What is going on? Well it is traditionally the time we slow down a bit. Harvest is just finishing, there are lots of party’s to celebrate getting the crops in. For much of recent history, we would take a couple of weeks easy, until we prepared for the winter.

    Now-a-days there are no “seasons”. My dad is out farming and getting the crops in, but it’s on a massive tractor. Not a machine pulled by horses, like when he was a child.

    Studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in school, I would read about the importance of getting treatments at season changes and thought they where kidding. Now after 20+ years I know they are serious about it.Read more

  • Book Reviews

    Being the best (or working towards it)

    I was asked how to get good at something.

    I have done some sports and jobs where I was fortunate to get to a high level.  I thought about it and told them hard work, good coach and luck.

    I was watching YouTube vids. I watch a lot of military people who have gone into the private sector. I think they have experienced things that are extreme and have to think and apply principles learned in a very timely manner. Ie. fast or they get shot.

    This pilot came on, you can see his vid here. He gave this great talk about being the best and how he got there.

    Some key points, it is NOT crowded at the top. There is plenty of room up there for you. When you get there you will be surprised how humble, nice and helpful they are.Read more

  • Uncategorized

    Unlocking sucess

    The clinic is grateful to have won “Best of Kelowna” in the Health Practitioner category.

    What gets us there? Many, many things.

    Without people willing to spend their time to vote, nothing happens and I thank you.

    What gets them to vote? The likely answer is they where helped at the clinic. For those that know me, they can wonder how that happens.

    What makes that happen is: first a partner that really does a lot of the heavy lifting to allow me to do the easy stuff. Without Heather this clinic would just not go. We also have some behind the scenes people that do their part, from our Web and Print people, Alex and Mark. Our tech guy, Grant. Our Accountant, Peter, Amrit and their team and without my teacher Elisabeth I would be fumbling in the dark ages still.

    Read more

  • Acupuncture

    Sun lotion

    Recently there has been a lot of talk of children being chemically burned by sun lotion. It looks terrible and it must hurt those little people a lot, but what is it doing on them?

    A few years ago I did a TV interview for sun lotion and learned all about the history and ingredients in North American and European sun lotions and there are some big differences. If you can get the European stuff. Also get lotion with UVA and UVB protection.

    First off, my African friends do not use sun lotion growing up. They just stay OUT OF THE SUN, during the 10am-3pm times. They cover up, play under trees, inside or where ever they are not getting blasted by the sun.

    I lived in the Caribbean for about 5 years, the first year I used a lot of lotion and after that I only put a bit on my nose for the remaining years. After learning how to be in the sun and not be in the sun depending on the times of day.

    Now if your telling me that’s inconvenient for you, then don’t have children. A parental job is to keep your kids safe and keeping them out of peak UV exposure times is part of it. Sun lotion is really little bits of titanium and goo to hold it onto your skin. Really not very good for anyone.

    In the TV interview I was actually arguing for the use of it and the other guest said putting sun lotion onto a kid “is equivalent to child abuse”. Maybe a bit overstated but…

    I do think there are times a young person (think age 5 and up) may need some sun lotion. But I think you should not put it on a baby. They simply need to be kept out of the sun during peak times. I know that may interfere with your beach time, but it’s for the best.

    What about skin cancer and sun related damage? Stay out of peak sun times.

    I do keep a bottle of sun lotion on my boat and do use it if I am racing for the day. I do think there is times for sun lotion and you situation will be unique, but the less chemicals you put on a child the better.

    Be Well,
    Ward Willison
    allbodycare.com
    Kelowna Acupuncture & Other Natural Therapies

     

     

  • Alternative Health

    Synvisc related to natural therapies

    A person has no cartilage left in their knee and it hurts. The doctor says you need $400 injections of Synvisc it’s magic.

    You may ask “hey Doc any other more natural approaches?” 

    Well there is the combs of roosters. You say “WHAT!!!”

    Yeah you know the red funny looking thing on the top of a rooster. Lets grind that up and you take some. Would you?

    Well that of course is what Synvisc is made of.(1) You likely thought is was some high tech drug. There are several high tech drug injections, but if you ask around you will find out stuff made from chicken combs works the best, but why does it cost $400 a shot? (that’s another story)

    Being in “natural” therapies I mostly hear from Doctors that foods, herbs, supplements are a waste of time and seldom work. Then they inject a crazy expensive form of hyaluronic acid from the combs of chicken.
    Read more

  • all body care tech stress
    Mental and Emotional Health

    Tech Stress Loading

    Recently All Body Care had its web site rebuilt and we incorporated on-line bookings. For tech savvy people that likely seems a non-event.

    Tell to a guy who practices something 3000 years old and runs the whole thing from a binder he’s had since grade 11, it was mighty stressful.

    We are very grateful for the great tech people that really did all the work (and continue to correct all the things we blow up).

    Change is a constant, but it does not happen at a “constant” rate. Most people have what I call stress loading events. Everything is going along just fine and then WAM!

    Read more

  • Acupuncture

    Stationary bike at your stand up desk, good idea or bad idea?

    The world of stand up desks, have you got one yet? It’s going to save your world. But wait you also need to get a tread mill or a stationary bike with it.

    So is it a good idea or a bad one? The short answer is, bad and of course the longer answer is, it depends.

    The idea that standing up is better than sitting down for work entirely depends on the work you do. People will say it’s better for your posture, your thinking, your…. They are likely the same people that came 5 years ago and “ergonomized” your desk, saying the same things then.Read more

  • Western medicine

    You have a new organ

    It’s hard to believe but we have a new organ the Mesentery. Previously thought to be fragments of tissue now Western Medicine has realized it’s an organ.

    The fascinating part is, in Chinese Medicine (CM) it has always been there. We call it the “San Jiao” or “Triple Warmer” aka TW. I have always wondered about the TW as there was no actual organ in western med, many of us thought it was a mistake on the part of CM, but here we are realizing they where correct. They figured that out 2000+ years ago!Read more

  • Western medicine

    Stuart McGill

    I got to spend three days with likely the top low back guy in the world. It was amazing all the photos he has working on every type of top level athlete in the world and with 80 year olds and people injured on the job.

    His last day of work as a Professor is Tuesday and I am sure they will not be able to fill his spot. For all the years I have spent in researching spines I have not come across anyone close to where he is working from.

    Read more

  • Acupuncture

    Are your senior parents lying to you?

    elderly-seniors-hands
    Yep.

    My University friend did a study that made the National news that shows seniors are not being honest about their state of health.

    I could have told you that without any study. Heck I can tell you, that you are likely not being honest about your health if someone asks either.

    Seniors are wildly fearful that their Independence is going to be taken away if they are deemed to be medically unwell. Yet the opposite is true. The more we understand their state of health the more appropriate resources can be  apply to their situation. Lengthening their independence.

    I encourage all of us with parents over the age of 70 to have regular, honest, health talks. Prepare them for the reality of moving to a ‘retirement resort’. Do everyone a favor, get them in one before they need to.

    I remember my Grandparents, we moved them from their 5 level split home of 45 years to an apartment. I was amazed at how they complained until they got there and where just amazed how much easier it was to live in.

    Then as they aged we moved them into a ‘retirement facility’. Ow did they resist, but again after a few weeks, they loved it. A whole group of like minded people, meals cooked, activities, music…

    I think we are all scared of aging and dying. I think we should adopt a culture where our parents come to live with us and we are all more communal. But, that’s not how we do it in North America, the next best thing is get them around some of their peer group. Versus living alone and scared all by themselves.

    We are not meant to be alone. We are social beings. It can be hard to get your parents to be honest about their health but start early and show them you care. Remember they changed you diapers, you owe them.

    Be Well,
    Ward Willison
    allbodycare.com
    Kelowna Acupuncture & Other Natural Therapies

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/seniors-lie-about-health-1.3705171
    http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/11/09/geront.gnu092.full